Hello, I am turning 26 in a few months, I would like to know what transplant procedure would best suit my current hair loss pattern. I have researched the strip method, also the individual extraction method, I like the individual method better, it seems to be less evasive and less surgical, however, the cost appears to be higher, why is that? Would I qualify for the single extraction? What degree of a transplant do I require to restore my hairline to a even more full appearance? Any estimates in cost? Thank you for viewing my questions and looking over my pictures, you have my permission to use them on your site if they help in any way. If you require photos from any other angles please let me know. I am not on Propecia, I have been reading about Provilus, is that a good alternative? I am more interested in the natural ingredients if they have similar results.
Thank you again, I hope to hear back from you with some positive ideas!
First, thank you for permission to post your photos! If I was able to map out your scalp for miniaturization, I’d be able to tell if the top and crown of your head, which appears normal now, has any early signs of balding there. The pattern you present with is between and Norwood 3A and 4A pattern and I suspect that there is miniaturization in the 4A pattern area where part of the forelock still persists. If you took Propecia (necessary to prevent further loss and the possibility of shock loss after transplantation), then transplanting the frontal area with about 2000 grafts would suffice in most men with your pattern. I would have to know more about your hair characteristics (straight vs curly, coarse vs fine) as this will tell me the value of your hair, part of the essential formula for estimating hair replacement.
Provillus will not give you the same protection against shock hair loss that Propecia (finasteride 1mg) would, so if you get a hair transplant, you need to be aware of this. For your information, the main ingredient in Provillus that does work is saw palmetto, which as I’ve stated many times before, is a weak DHT blocker at best.
The follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique is very labor intensive and the time it takes to do it is much more than a standard strip procedure. That is why the cost is higher. Also, the results from FUE are variable while the strip procedure is predictable nearly 100% of the time. For more info on FUE, please see:
- Follicular Unit Extraction: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Hair Transplantation
- Follicular Unit Extraction: The FOX Procedure
There have been many posts on this site that discuss how when companies claim DHT blocking capabilities, they are usually not on target and actually violate FDA and FCC rules. Not only does this product’s marketing state that it will guarantee your hair loss stops in 7 days, but it also claims that within 365 days of taking the first pill, you will experience a “complete reversal of the [hair loss] process”. In other words, the product is claimed to completely regrow all lost hair in a year. Oh, come on! The most ridiculous part of it all (as if it could be any more) is that they offer cartoons on their site rather than actual before/after photos. So if you want to see how an art drawing can regrow hair, look no further than with Profinast! Also, performing a “whois” lookup on the owner of the official product’s website domain shows that rather than seeing the actual name/address/phone of the owner or manufacturer, it displays a “private registration” — meaning they are hiding their real contact information from the public. Does none of this seem fishy to anyone but me?